The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-10-01

strong man. Oblong in shape, it
was provided near the top with a
series Of vertical slits into which it
was impossible to see, but which per-
mitted to escape a strong but agree
able perfume. There was nothing
in the jar which ratified, nor did it
seem to be weighted with anything
beyond its own substance. The cir
Gle of mysterious hieroglyphics which
made an inscription about the waist
of the curiosity, was unintelligible to
any of the learned to whom the
young man showed it. Nevertheless
on the very night the old man died,
the mysterious power began to mani
fest itself They who slept within
the range ofthe perfume were visited
by strange visions, and awoke thrice
refreshed.
The doubts ofscepticism vanished.
The young man became the apostle
of the unknown power. The new
school began humbly, as great things
areapt to begin; but the results were
broader and further reaching per-
haps than even the originator fore
saw Little by little the young apos-
tic drew about him a circle of firm
believers not only in the superior
medicinal properties of the stone
vessel, but also in the supernatural
origin of the power which caused
them. Men came to be cured, and
stayed to worship. What wonderl
All eyes beheld the miraculous
fruits Of the mysterious depository of
the philosophers secret. Under the
mystic spell moral evils We're dispell-
cd; blasphemers forgot to curse, and
those who had been possessed of
devils became like other men. Devo-
tees sprang up full of enthusiasm
who proselyted, and philosophers
full of mysticism who constructed a
system and proved by sylogisms,
what the common people accepted
through faith.
In time a temple was erected.
After much persecution the new
faith was tolerated by royal edict,
the jar having proved eflicOcious in
cure of a member of a holy family
who visited the apostle in disguise.
There was a great bed in the temple,
and the mystic vessel was placed in
the middle of it, and there slept
f around it every night, their heads
touching it, and their feet turned to-
ward every point of the compass, as
many of the sick as the space allow
? ed. Even to gain a place in temple
, under the same roof with it was es
teemcd a great boon.
In the course of months the won
der lost its perfume, though it wa:
said still to become miraculously
| powerful on the festival days of tn,
6 new sect.
: And all this while the apostle KEEP
: his faith with the dead. He did no
;, know the secret which he advocated
q nor did he ever seek to know it. H,
was content to follow the cours
y which had been marked out for hin
t by the philosopher. But one da,
= something happened to change hi
l. mind.
/. 1t came about that the King fel
Il very sick, and having been despaire,
IS of by his physicians, sent to tn
0 apostle of the Unknown Power, TIL
r effect of the jar was most efficacioui
/, despite the fact that the royal doc
E, tors denounced it as superstition
l. After the first night the King bega
| to mend rapidly, and in a short tim
It after neglecting the medicine of hi
e. physicians he was entirely wei
d Then he sent for the apostle an
: gave him private audience.
le "You, of course, are aware of tn
d nature of this wonderful thing whic
d cures?" the King questioned.
Il "No, your majesty. l have nevt
a sought to learn. The secret is sti
G. locked in the vessel which W;
u, transmitted to me by the dis coverer
81 had heard that tale" replie
ye the King, "but believed it to be
is convenient fiction. However,
n makes no difference, since we mu
both know shortly. l am convin
~ ed that this will be for the benei
re of my subjects. Instead of one We
! sci we shall have thousand, an
or make this limited benefit good
e. all our kingdom"
l. "Your words cause me TO fea
IN great sovereign" said the apostl
le trembling, ii gave my oath thi
ne the vessel should not be broken
is forty years. 1t is scarcely half tn
~ number since the Wonder came in
a my charge"
III "Your discoverer was too modest
- . -. Il IL d. ~. tsII -